Q: I have been obsessing over what fabric to choose for this sofa - currently living on our porch - for over a year. I swear I fall asleep visualizing it, pathetic really. With two small children and cats, the fabric must be durable, and I can't choose a stain-resistant fabric as I'm avoiding the chemicals. I'm a huge fan of the curvy Finn Juhl -style sofas with contrasting trim, and initially I thought I'd pick a grey fabric with contrasting trim and buttons ( ie, light grey with a dark grey or dark blue welt..) but now I'm unsure.
Every image I see of a couch I love seems to be a saturated blue — like the Emily Henderson above — but every voice in the 'design world' seems to repeat the neutral couch mantra. Should I go with the grey (in a tightly woven recylcled-poly or eco-leather or a kvadrat- tightly woven, woolen tweed) and do the chairs in blue? Or should I upholster the sofa in blue (like the blue on Emily's couch above or a very dark navy eco-leather) and cover the chairs in a neutral (pearly grey)? I don't normally like matching sets, but these chairs are too special to leave out, though I also have danish lounge chairs and french bergere-style armchairs I could get re-covered.
My living room is grey with white trim, my dining room is a saturated blue, floors are hardwood with a fairly dark stain. So, if I had a blue couch the design element would be repeated, while if I used gray, it would go from dark to light, but I would have a large painting behind for contrast.
Sent by Kirsten
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It sounds to me like you are wanting us to justify covering your couch in blue...I am more than happy to do that! GO BLUE!!! That shade is gorgeous! Don't take the "safe" (read: neutral) route on this one.
P.S.: Do the chairs in the same blue if you want as well! I think it'd look smashing for them to all be the same color and material.
I have struggled with this question too. Had cats and have multiple dogs that shed good amounts of fur twice a year. A gnarly Harris tweed would probably hide the hair. LOL NOT fun to sit on. Went with a medium grey flannel. Best ever for not showing hair. Add your favorite color with paint, pillows, art work.
I don't have kids, but I do have 3 cats. Personally I refuse to decorate my house around them even if that means I have to clean white cathair off our black fabric headboard every other day. Especially since this is a sofa, which does so much in terms of adding to the style and atmosphere of one of the most important rooms in the house, I would say go with what you really want and deal with whatever the kids and the cats throw at it later. It sounds like you really want a blue fabric, so go for it! I think it is absolutely gorgeous and since your dining room is also blue it's obviously a color that you're really drawn to. Doing the chairs in a grey tone would also be beautiful. It doesn't matter what the design world is dictating, it matters what you love and I would not compromise on color for the sake of practicality lest you end up bored with what is otherwise an amazing sofa. As far as fabric type goes, I'd probably try to find something similar to the velvety fabric in the picture rather than leather. So much more luxurious!
the rug was solid rust, the cat was black & white; the result was a calico rug. a light tweed would be style-appropriate, perhaps with throw pillows in your blue, and you then would be sitting on your furniture more than you would be vacuuming it.
I just found out that my question had been posted on AT and I missed the boat, bah! Thanks for all the comments. That FInn Juhl sofa would look good in anything, I guess, it has bags of character. Thanks for all the great suggestions!
Would the shape of my couch look too 'cartoony' in a royal blue? I'm hoping not, I also love the idea of a darker navy eco-leather ( ick term sorry!) with the chairs done in pale grey.. but if the chair were different fabric as well as color, would that be weird? I love the sofa so much, I'm scared of wrecking it. Now, too obsess over piping.. maybe a good way to die the chairs to the sofa? I go from loving piping to thinking it's a little pompous.
I have a blue velvet couch now, so though i love it, might need a change. It's big and a tad frumpy, though, not like this one. But it is insanely cat proof in terms of scratching, but it is always covered in cat hair, notsogood. It doesn't show up on 'leather' at all, though I know a lot of leather couches are giant and horrendous,..